SENATE RESOLUTION 15

(By Senators Beach, Stollings, Caputo, and Lindsay)

[Introduced March 5, 2021]

Acknowledging the West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc., as West Virginia's first botanic garden.

Whereas, The West Virginia Botanic Garden, lnc., was founded as a non-profit corporation

on December 13, 1983, by a group of volunteers in Monongalia County before finding a physical

site for development; and

Whereas, On May 19, 1999, the City of Morgantown leased its 82 acres Tibbs Run Property, former site of the city's Tibbs Run Reservoir, to the West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc. to begin active management and improvements; and

Whereas, The West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc., has developed improvements through volunteerism, grassroots fundraising, and sweat equity to become a premier Mountain State tourism destination that travelers from across the United States and foreign nations have enjoyed, adding revenue to the local economy; and

Whereas, The West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc., is home to a variety of habitats, such as unique and rare stands of

virgin timber, vast wetland complexes, mixed hardwoods, and meadows—that are interpreted

for public education and enjoyment; and

Whereas, The West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc., accessions, cultivates, and interprets plant collections as a museum of plants; and

Whereas, The West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc. hosts structured youth nature camps, public and private school groups, organized themed walks, workshops, seasonal events, farm-to-

 table dinners, concerts, outdoor theatre, and other activities; and

Whereas, The West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc., is known as a place for public wellness through guided meditation

and nature-based health activity; and

Whereas, The West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc., is utilized without fees or formal partnerships for the sciences, arts, and business by interdisciplinary students at West Virginia University and other state institutions

of higher education for research and volunteerism, by science-based government entities such as the United States Department of Agriculture and West Virginia Department of Environmental

Protection for training, and by businesses for science-based training such as wetland delineation

and stream ecology; and

Whereas, The State of West Virginia is enhanced by the mission of the West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc., which is to foster learning, inspiration, and well-being through the beauty and wonder of plants, the natural environment, and culturally enriching experiences; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby acknowledges the West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc., as West Virginia's first botanic garden; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate celebrates the great community, volunteer, scientific, and economic contributions of the West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc.; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate recognizes the West Virginia Botanic Garden, Inc., as West Virginia's flagship garden; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate designates the Saturday before Mother's Day in 2021 as West Virginia Botanic Garden Day; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the appropriate representatives from the West Virginia Department of Commerce and Office of Tourism.